Chapter Text
It was Zelda’s opinion that her father was being quite unfair. His orders indeed were for her own safety, but she felt leashed to the castle. As a child, she had thought the idea of having a sworn protector to be wonderful, a valiant knight to be her constant companion. It was back when her view of the world was romantic and hopeful. Before there was a constant threat on the horizon, and her powers did not respond.
She had nothing against Link. He was rather quiet, in fact, he had not properly spoken to her other than to swear himself to her side. Born to a family of knights, he had been known to her for some time now, and as children, she might have even thought of him as a potential playmate. But even as a child, Link had already had a sense of propriety and always greeted her with her title, and so a true closeness never formed. It was not as though they never spoke to each other, but conversations were brief and usually unbearably polite.
She knew that he was capable in combat, and his sparring sessions with other knights were subject to constant speculation and praise. Rumors spread through the castle of his prestige, almost as quickly as the rumors spread of her faults. After all, how could they not compare the girl with the blood of the goddess, who failed to produce any sign of her powers, to the strapping knight who was already besting adults as a child. Where Link excelled, she failed. Where his oaths sounded sure and genuine, striking deep into the souls of everyone who could hear, her own expressions of devotion, her prayers, felt like the awkward ramblings of a child.
In the beginning, these comparisons did not bother her. Court gossip was hardly worth paying attention to as it changed with the tides. But as the threat of the Calamity grew, so did her own self-doubts.
It was easy enough to ignore him in the beginning. Castle life was hardly as special as it appeared to be, and she largely spent her time in the library or praying. It was easy enough to ignore a guard when there were several others wandering around the library or when he stood guard on the battlements outside her study. He was rather respectful of her, which almost made her feel guilty for ignoring him. On several occasions, they had exchanged words, but it was never more than pleasantries or respectful phrases.
There were times where she looked at him as he stood outside her study and wished things were different. Perhaps if there was no Calamity or if she had a better grasp on her powers, he would not have this overwhelming sense of duty towards her. They might have been able to forge a companionship.
She was not entirely alone. Although a princess’ life and responsibilities were not suitable for crafting many friendships, Zelda still found people she felt close to. Impa had recently been involving her in research about the Sheikah technology, inviting her to join her research team with Robbie and Purah. They were kind, if a bit erratic, but regardless it was nice to be valued as something other than a princess or a solution that has yet to prove itself. Science offered her a chance to be useful in the fight to come. Perhaps that was why Impa first sent her that letter inviting her to survey their latest lab and its discoveries. Zelda’s change in mood after leaving her morning prayers had become noticeable.
If Link noticed any sourness to her mood, he said nothing. It was her failed attempt to awaken her powers at morning prayers that had her mind turning, but she had thought company would quell the growing unease within her. Though Link did not initiate or respond to most conversations, so perhaps he was not the best choice. Her other reason for asking if he would accompany her had to do with the growing threat of the Yiga clans and their attempts on Royal lives. She had not been worried, but she asked Link along to appease her father’s wishes.
The Quarry Ruins were not necessarily known for their foliage, but Zelda had hopes that she might find a stamella shroom or even a hearty truffle if she was lucky. Perhaps Link could be persuaded to go fishing with her. She had heard of his cooking skills. Another thing that he could do effortlessly while she poured over books and studies only to make unintelligible mush.
The sun was still high in the sky, though the air had a frost’s bite when the breeze whipped by. They had taken their horses with them, but Zelda regretted not bringing her riding coat. The Quarry Ruins were elegant in the way that all ruins were, remnants of something magnificent, but the land was uneven from the rocks, and her horse disliked the sloping terrain. Though she had to soothe her own steed several times, she had no doubt that Epona was following Link’s every wish, likely without much coercion or even suggestion. Perhaps he simply had such favor from the Goddess that nature too bent its will for him. Zelda had no such favor.
Attempting to shrug away her worsening mood, she turned to address Link from over her shoulder. “Might we dismount for a moment? I should like to walk for a while.”
Though she attempted to phrase it as a question and a royal request, the reality of the situation was not lost on her. In power and in status, the only person above her was the king, yet her father had granted Link jurisdiction over Zelda’s safety, an indirect way to give Link power over her. Of course, he had yet to demand anything of her, likely due to his profound combat abilities that made even the most dangerous beast to appear as threatening as a housepet.
He nodded, dismounting quickly so that he might assist her. With speed she had never seen in another Hylian, Link appeared by the side of her horse, offering her a hand before she could even properly swing both her legs to the same side.
Plastering a princess’ placid smile upon her lips, she accepted his hand. The leather of his gloves was warm against her palm, and she tried and failed to gather enough strength to meet his eyes. His were on her. She could feel the weight of them like the press of his hand against hers. Blue eyes that would offer no disrespect, nor any indication of believing the rumors that followed her. Link was dependable, to a standard that she could not meet let alone measure.
So she stared at the forest floor as he helped her slide to her feet, ignoring the kindness in his grip on her hand just as she ignored the way his hand felt on her waist as she stumbled with her footing.
If she was not strong enough to meet his eyes, she certainly wasn’t strong enough to mumble the words of gratitude for not letting her land on her face. Pulling herself out of his steadying hold, she moved towards the ruins, choosing to let her own steed graze for the moments it would take for her to gather materials. Storm had been her horse for years and was dependable in ways that she desperately needed these days. Link’s horse was similarly loyal despite him having only acquired her recently.
“I believe I saw several rushrooms by the walls. Perhaps we might find small creatures that might enhance their capabilities. Different food is of course prepared for different occasions, but if we can find the perfect recipes that aid in combat, perhaps it can assist the champions.” And perhaps she would not have to worry so fretfully about what might happen if she cannot play her part she failed to add.
Link followed dutifully, looking under any rocks that Zelda pointed at. The ruins themselves were still slick from the morning’s rain. Zelda ran her finger over the cold stone. She had never been particularly skilled at climbing. Perhaps she could climb the hill to see better from that vantage point.
“We must see what else there is from higher ground. I don’t want to miss any resources. Anything could be important.” Her eyes fell to the damp ground, hoping to avoid an errant puddle. Having to explain once again why her boots had returned in such a state would be inconvenient at best.
As she raised her gaze to catch Link’s obedient nod, she was met with empty air. He had moved so silently that she hadn’t noticed. Whirling, she found him atop one of the sloping rocks, his hand extended towards her. He was undoubtedly trying to be helpful, but the expectant look in his eyes made her prickle.
“Thank you.” She reluctantly accepted his hand, not wishing to seem ungrateful or even more bitter than she already was. Gesturing to a section of the formation that jutted forward, Link instructed her to put her foot there for leverage before his other hand found its way under her arm to lift her into a sitting place beside him. The ease with which he lifted her baffled Zelda for a moment. It was not as though he never touched her. Often he had to guide her with a hand on her elbow to pull her away from a puddle or uneven ground. But in this instance she could still feel the weight of his hand against her ribs. Zelda had half a mind to scold him for deigning to touch the princess, but the quick retraction of his hands and his immediate return to perusing the area left her feeling foolish for such a rise in her temper.
Before he had been assigned to her, she had looked at him differently. Link was a symbol of hope against a coming evil, a reminder that there were those among them who could do amazing things. Now, attached to her side, he was a reminder of all she could not do. Worst of all was that she only had herself to blame for her sour mood. Link was nothing if not courteous. It was her who was ungrateful and spiteful. Perhaps it was no wonder the Goddess would not bless her.
Link’s sudden alertness pulled her from her thoughts, and she followed his outstretched hand. Stuck to the side of several rock faces to the North were scattered rushrooms.
The sight of them was such a relief that Zelda briefly forgot to be irritated that Link saw them first. “Rushrooms! How fantastic! Perhaps the champions might find them useful in battle. We could experiment with them later and see if any recipes have an effect on your stamina.”
She turned to face him, joy cracking through the mask she had adorned since leaving her room in the morning. It was not the first time she convinced the royal guard to let her look for materials outside the castle walls, but on her last outing, Zelda had returned empty-handed and been scolded for abusing royal escorts for such fruitless ventures. Nevermind that she hadn’t wanted an escort in the first place. Thankfully Link was more helpful than the other guard, and they would be able to return with Rushrooms at the very least.
But as she saw his eyes, a calm blue no matter what enemy was across from them, she remembered herself and turned away. His eyes were still on her, and Zelda felt a hint of embarrassment at how easily she became childishly excited in the midst of preparations for something so harrowing.
“Shall we gather them?” She amended the level of enthusiasm in her voice. “Perhaps there will be something else nearby.”
But Link wasn’t looking at her anymore. He was looking to the North past the Carok Bridge. A gust of wind drew a shiver from her shoulders before she could help it. Another reason to wish she had not forgotten her riding coat. Almost immediately, Link began to shrug off his own cloak to offer it to her, his eyes returned to her with concern deepening the blue of his irises. Zelda stopped him with a hand on his arm. He wore an undershirt made of cotton, but it was thin to aid in his mobility, and the Champion’s tunic he wore was hardly suitable for the cold.
“Thank you, but that is not necessary.” The smile she forced to her lips felt a little easier after the discovery of the rushrooms. When she retracted her hand, she felt his delayed exhale, and color flushed her cheeks. It was foolish of her to touch him so casually. When he initiated contact, it was in regards to her safety.
She slipped down to the ground once more a little too cautiously to be considered smooth and averted her eyes when Link freely jumped off the structure to land soundlessly on the hard ground.
There were only three rushrooms to be found, and although they scoured the other rock faces, there was nothing else to be found. Link carried the rushrooms in his pack, and Zelda winced at what little space they took up. Only three rushrooms would not be enough for this outing to feel worth it.
She looked to the valley between the cliffs of the plain. Her last excursion had been to the North Hyrule plain, and she had come back empty handed, but perhaps the valley would offer something.
Turning she began to walk towards the Carok bridge. If she could just see what was on the other side, she would know if it would be fruitful. Link was occupied some paces away, but he would surely follow her once he realized where she was going. If they were lucky, they might find something else before they went too far.
The bridge was strong beneath her feet, and she let herself look at the castle looming above. Though it was her home, she often considered the weight of her legacy as one she was not strong enough to bear. The weight of the monarch's crown was certainly heavy. Her father had become more her sovereign than her parent of late though she could not entirely begrudge him. Of the two people meant to save Hyrule, only one of them was suitable for the task.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice Link sprinting after her until he threw himself into her path. A protective arm blocking her path, she opened her mouth to snap at him, but then saw what currently held his attention. She was an utter fool.
In front of them, just beyond the opening of the cliffs on either side were three clusters of bokoblins, with archers on three different structures. Her throat went dry and her hand gripped his arm.
“Do we run?” She whispered.
Link was facing her though his gaze was on the monsters over his shoulder. With her hand on his arm, she could feel the rigidity of his muscles, his body tensing before a battle. Zelda had seen monsters before, but she had never been close enough to hear their horrid squeaks and grunts before. Most of the issues she faced pertained to the Yiga.
As she shied away, folding behind his protective stance, a noise came from behind them. Storm had grown impatient grazing the fruitless pastures and let out a disgruntled whinny. The closest archer of the bokoblin’s attention snapped to them, and a horrible silence held in the air for a moment. Zelda felt her heartbeat in her throat, threatening to spill out of her. She had no defense, no way to aid Link. There were easily ten of them, not counting those residing within the skull caves. They would both die because of her.
The bokoblin drew its horn to its mouth, and an alarm filled the air. Hands wrapped around her arms, pulling her close.
“Take Storm. Go to the edge of the ruins. If I don’t return in five minutes, head for the castle and don’t look back.”
For a moment, the sound of his voice startled her out of her fear. It was lower than she had remembered it to be, rich with urgency, but even in the face of imminent danger, he was calm. Zelda had seen what other soldiers looked like before a battle, bloodlust darkening their features. Link was steadfast.
A different sort of fear seized her, and she gripped his arms, realizing his plan. “Link, don’t…”
But he was already out of her hold, drawing his sword from its sheath. He gave her one final look before he ran towards the mass of bokoblins heading for them. A look of concern for only her, and Zelda felt her stomach hollow.
She had seen him fight before. Other soldiers in the yard were eager to see if they could best him, and it was always brilliant to watch. Link was a whirl of grace and athleticism. Yet she could not watch now, not as the hoard of bokoblins swallowed him and he disappeared from sight.
Turning on her heel, she sprinted for the bridge. Her breath felt stuck in her lungs. She tried to listen for the roaring of monsters, but she couldn’t hear anything over the rush in her ears.
Storm was grazing just on the other side of the bridge, and she jumped into the saddle as quickly as she could manage. The urge to look up for Link nearly felt blinding. But she couldn’t do it. What if all she saw was his body strewn beneath the monsters? What if she had gotten him killed? She should be facing foes with the power of the goddess, and instead she sent her knights to die for her error.
Choking on her thoughts, she urged Storm back towards the ruins. It was what Link had said to do. She had to act as though he was coming, to believe that he would. He was the Goddess’ champion.
The wind had picked up, but Zelda couldn’t feel it, nor could she properly think. Everything magnificent about the ruins now felt cold and detached, and the open sky that had felt liberating now felt exposing. She headed to the Southern end of the Quarry Ruins, hoping that was Link’s intention when he had told her to go to the edge. West Castle Town was just to the east of her, but people often journeyed through it to get to the castle. It would be better to draw the monsters farther away from people while still heading towards the access road that would take her to the Castle gates.
Once they reached the edge of the road, Zelda slowed Storm to a stop and turned to face the expanse of land they had just fled. At every passing second, she prayed to see an infuriatingly calm face bounding towards them, but there was nothing but stillness.
There was little way for her to tell how much time was passing, all of her timekeepers were in her lab for experimentation purposes, so she counted underneath her heaving breaths. Each number felt bitter in her mouth, and her heart began to crash in her chest as she passed the halfway point. Silence settled into her skin. She slowed as she neared 300, every muscle in her body turning to lead. She didn’t want to leave him.
A figure came darting around the bend, and Zelda’s throat tightened as it grew closer. It wasn’t Link. It was a Bokoblin covered in blood. A sob spilled through her lips as it drew closer.
Zelda readied her feet at Storm’s side to send him speeding away when an arrow sliced through the air and exploded on contact. The Bokoblin went flying, dead before it hit the ground, but the explosion sent Storm bucking into the air, and Zelda was thrown, landing hard on the ground behind her.
The impact knocked the wind out of her, and she took a gasping breath as another figure darted towards her. Before she could even throw her hands up in defense, hands had latched around her arms, drawing her to her feet, and she was met with concerned blue eyes.
Link was covered in blood, though the lightness of his breath suggested that it wasn’t his. Still the sight of him brought equal feelings of relief and worry.
“Are you alright?” She gasped, still fighting for her breath.
He nodded sharply as his eyes traversed the length of her, looking for injury. It was decidedly uncouth, but an incessant need to know if he was truly alright moved her arms of its own accord. Her hands gripped his tunic on the outside of his shoulders, and his eyes returned to hers.
With a breath that was more her own, she spoke with more authority. “Are you hurt?”
Link’s head shook decidedly.
Emotions she couldn’t decipher within such a charged moment flooded her. “B-but there were so many of them. There were at least fifteen.” Something wretched stirred in her stomach, like she was disappointed that it had been so easy for him. “You have not a scratch?”
Hesitantly, his mouth opened, features soft and carefully blank, but his eyes were full of reassurance though if it was regarding his safety or her own she could not be certain. “They were red bokoblins.”
Zelda removed her hands at his statement. It was said with a decided lack of arrogance, a humility she couldn’t bear. “Yes. Glad that you’re well. We should return.”
Link let his own hands fall to his side, and he nodded.
After finding their horses and traveling towards the castle walls, the first sight of Link covered in blood sent alarm throughout the other soldiers. Zelda inwardly cringed, wondering if she should have asked him to wash his tunic somewhere before they entered. Once they were within the castle again, she was immediately sent to see her father. Perhaps it was cowardly that she didn’t even offer Link a second glance before she left.
Meeting with her father was occasionally positive, but not in this instance, and those positive meals they shared were growing fewer and farther between as the threat of Ganon grew stronger. King Rhoam was an imposing man, and the guards had scattered quickly when he told them to leave the throne room. Zelda had been relieved. At least no one would witness her shame.
And so he yelled, words cutting into her like knives, but she told herself she could take it. The worst part of all of it was that his words were true. She had endangered the hero and herself, the two keys to defeating Ganon. She was allowing fruitless errands to distract from her failings with her prayers. It was a speech that she had heard before, but Link had never been involved before. And it wasn’t her father’s admonishment over endangering the hero that cut her deep, but her own terror when she thought something might have happened to him.
However long her scolding lasted she couldn’t say, but she found herself in her study later, staring at empty pages of a journal. Night had fallen over the castle, and rumination had taken root in her mind. She kept reliving the moment in the ruins with her father’s repriments voiced over the scene. Worse, she kept catastrophizing what might have happened if Link was not so skilled.
A knock on the outer door of the study drew her from her thoughts. Expecting one of her handmaidens, she called for them to enter. They would certainly want to accompany her to her chambers, and there was little purpose in staring at a blank book.
When no one spoke, she turned to see Link standing in the doorway, holding a bag. She rose abruptly. He had clearly bathed since before. There was no sight of the blood and grime that had been sticking to his skin. Changed into his Royal Guard’s armor, he looked as if he had never left the castle. Zelda wondered offhandedly what she must look like.
Reaching into the bag, he produced a very squished, nearly falling apart rushroom. “I’m sorry.”
He sounded so genuinely apologetic that she turned her head. “It’s alright. It’s not important anyway.”
Quietly, he drew closer, handing the rest of the bag out to her. Curiosity bested her, and she accepted the bag from him, risking a glance at his expectant eyes.
Underneath the disintegrating rushrooms lay bokoblin horns and fangs, and even some guts. A startled gasp left her lips, and she nearly dropped the bag.
“I thought you might want to see if you could make elixirs out of them.” His voice was shy, almost sheepish.
Zelda stared at him, completely stunned. Was this why he hadn’t returned immediately? He was collecting monster parts? There were many possible elixirs she could try to make. This find indicated a new kind of exploration. It would require research of course, but research she was eager to do.
“Thank you.” She said, finding the words felt genuine on her tongue. She offered him a smile, relieved that it didn’t feel quite so forced.
Link’s eyes were searching her face, but at her words, a shy smile of his own stretched across his lips.